Ubu Productions

Ubu Productions, Inc., is an independent production company founded in 1982 by television producer Gary David Goldberg. Ubu's notable productions include Family Ties (1982–1989), Brooklyn Bridge (1991–1993), and Spin City (1996–2002).[1][2]

Ubu co-produced many of its shows with Paramount Television and in later years, DreamWorks Television.[2]

Mascot dog

Ubu's mascot is Goldberg's dog Ubu Roi, a black labrador retriever which he had in college and subsequently traveled the world with. The closing tag for Ubu Productions is a photograph of Ubu Roi with a flying disc in his mouth, taken in the Tuileries Garden close to the Louvre Museum in Paris. Along with the picture is Goldberg's voice saying "Sit, Ubu, sit! Good dog!", followed by the sound of a bark. The dog was named after Alfred Jarry's 1896 play Ubu Roi, considered a precursor to the Theatre of the Absurd. Ubu the dog died in 1984.

The sequence was frequently referenced and parodied in pop culture.

  • In one after credits scene in Animaniacs, the Warners come out from the water tower with their hands folded to say "Sit, Ubu, sit!"
  • Goldberg's autobiography is titled Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I Went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the Same Woman, the Same Dog, and a Lot Less Hair.
  • A 1988 issue of MAD, which skewered demographics had "The Typical Audience" which divided expected viewership of TV shows. One was "The Typical Family Ties Audience", split along such groups as "25%: DINKYs looking for reasons to stay childless" and "2%: Ubu devotees".
  • In the Robot Chicken episode "Easter Basket", a character voiced by Seth Green says the line "Sit, Ubu, sit! Bad dog", followed by the sound of a gunshot and a dog whimper.[3]
  • In the 2010 Psych episode "Yang 3 in 2D," Mena Suvari's character says, "Sit, Ubu, sit!" as she's holding two other characters at gunpoint.[4]
  • In the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary episode, during Weekend Update, Edward Norton is mimicking Bill Hader's character "Stefon" and makes a reference by saying the party won't stop until you hear "Sit Ubu Sit, Good Dog."
  • In the BoJack Horseman episode "The Telescope", BoJack and Charlotte spot "Ubu, the dog that sits" at a party, to which Herb remarks "He is a good dog". Ubu's bark can be heard after the remark. In the episode 'Prickly-Muffin', Bojack finishes his end credits fantasy with the phrase (and the bark).
  • A question in the 1987 Disney version of Trivial Pursuit asked "What three words were spoken post-credits after every episode of Family Ties?" Answer: "Sit Ubu, sit."

References

  1. ↑ "Sponsors: Gary David Goldberg". Brandeis University. 2008. Ann Richards Invitational Roundtable on Gender and the Media.
  2. 1 2 Goldberg Bio at GaryDavidGoldberg.com
  3. ↑ , , , q:Robot Chicken#Easter Basket .5B2.3.5D
  4. ↑ Damski, Mel (2010-12-22), Yang 3 in 2D, retrieved 2016-03-22
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